Is Tea Gluten-free?

You may be wondering, is tea gluten-free? Fraser Tea products do not contain malted barley, or grains or flours that contain gluten in our tea blends. In addition, we handle no gluten products in our processing blending facility in Livonia.

For most people, avoiding gluten (which is a family of proteins found in grains, including wheat, rye, spelt, barley, etc.) is unnecessary. However, for our fellow tea drinkers that have celiac disease, gluten-sensitivity, or a wheat allergy, we wanted to share some data on our testing and the results. As you know, we take your health, the tea farmer’s health, and the environment seriously. That is exactly why Fraser Tea provides only organic tea, non-GMO pyramidal tea bags and support for Fair Trade.

Is Fraser Tea Gluten-Free?

Tea is by nature gluten-free. The Food and Drug Administration defines gluten-free as less than 20 parts per million (ppm). Our internal testing on a cross section of our flavored blends using our non - GMO pyramidal bags show negative for glutens at both 20 ppm (figure 1) and when tested at levels of 5 ppm.

Figure 2 - Gluten Test Results, AOAC Research GlutenTox Pro Test Kit

Our gluten tea tests were performed using our non-GMO pyramidal tea bags steeped in hot water via a AOAC Research Institute certified test kit. Since each individual has their own sensitivity level, it is advisable for each person to assess their condition and risk, but Fraser Tea wants to share data that supports understanding of gluten levels in our products.

Gluten Sensitivity vs Celiac Disease?

A gluten sensitivity can cause gastrointestinal issues like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, etc. but it does not cause damage to the small intestine., Celiac disease is a chronic digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine over time. About 2 million Americans or about 1% of the world have this disorder, according to JAMA Pediatrics review by Stefano Guandalini and Asaad Assiri .

Why is gluten-free important for Celiac Patients?

Celiac disease is triggered by consuming products that contain gluten. In addition, celiac disease can cause long-lasting digestive problems and keep your body from getting all the nutrients it needs according to Cohen, et al. For celiac patients, the only known effective treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet for life. Food and Drug Administration defines gluten-free products as containing less than 20 parts per million gluten. However, all celiac patients react differently to different levels of gluten.

We will continue to conduct gluten testing on our new teas to continue to provide you with the best tasting organic tea blends that strive to help you meet your health goals.

Want to learn more?

explore

Is Tea Gluten-free?